Waverley

Waverley's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Waverley increased by 5.1%, from almost 116,000 to 122,000.

The addition of about 5,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Waverley was home to, on average, 2.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Waverley.

The percentage of households in Waverley that rented privately increased from 8.1% in 2001 to 11% in 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households lived in social housing, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage of Waverley households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 74%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Waverley increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Waverley, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

This area saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

Across the region, only Slough (from 6.2% to 8.9%) and Brighton and Hove (from 10% to 13%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of self-employed people.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of self-employed people, as the regional average grew from 9.5% to 11%.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) people aged 16 to 74 in Waverley said they were self-employed, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 53% to 52%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Waverley

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Waverley, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South East, except Wokingham and Hart.

Across the South East, the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby Guildford increased from 33% to 35%.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) people aged 16 and over in Waverley said they were single, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 56% to 55%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Waverley residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.9% to 3.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Waverley residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Waverley decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Waverley, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

In Waverley, the proportion went up from 28% in 2001 to 29% in 2011, while across England it fell from 31% to 29%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Waverley fell from 63% to 62%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.0% to 8.6%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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